Review of Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008) by Brian W — 07 Jul 2008

I didn't expected much of this film, particularly because I'd always thought Polanski to be a strange European child molestor.

This movie, however, gave me a lot of insight into 1960s and '70s Hollywood culture, a lot of insight into celebrity court proceedings, and a great deal of respect for Polanski as a filmmaker. And the movie is artistically crafted, as well, opting not for the Michael Moore-style argument (constant commentary), but weaving old photos with haunting music and letting the news footage and imagery tell the story with a minimum of additional exposition.

And thankfully, it does not convince us that Polanski is not a creep. Instead, like the best fiction, it simply makes him a sympathetic character, a man who survived the Holocaust and the death of his family, and whose wife was slaughtered in the Manson murders (really.), and who made a horrible choice in the aftermath. This is one tortured soul, and the movie doesn't ask us to forgive him.

Excellent filmmaking, and a documentary as haunting (yes, I love this word) as "The Weather Underground" in its use of music (ripped from "Rosemary's Baby," yes, but it's so appropriate for the film). Great telling of a story, as well.